Overview

Title

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 521 Thorn Street in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as the Mary Elizabeth Bettie Cole Post Office Building.

ELI5 AI

This bill wants to change the name of a post office in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, to the "Mary Elizabeth ‘Bettie’ Cole Post Office Building," and it tells people that they should call it by this new name.

Summary AI

H. R. 1461 is a bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives to name the United States Postal Service facility located at 521 Thorn Street in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as the "Mary Elizabeth ‘Bettie’ Cole Post Office Building." The bill specifies that any legal or official references to this postal facility will need to recognize it by this new name.

Published

2025-02-21
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-02-21
Package ID: BILLS-119hr1461ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
1
Words:
287
Pages:
2
Sentences:
6

Language

Nouns: 116
Verbs: 13
Adjectives: 3
Adverbs: 0
Numbers: 8
Entities: 41

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.17
Average Sentence Length:
47.83
Token Entropy:
4.30
Readability (ARI):
25.36

AnalysisAI

Summary of the Bill

The bill, H.R. 1461, seeks to change the name of the United States Postal Service facility located at 521 Thorn Street in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, to the "Mary Elizabeth 'Bettie' Cole Post Office Building." This legislative action has been brought forward by several members of Congress and is under review by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Significant Issues

Designation and Use of Resources

One issue that arises from this bill is the concern over the allocation of government resources to rename a post office after an individual. Some might question whether this is an appropriate use of resources, particularly if any financial expenditure is involved in creating new signage or updating official records. However, it's important to note that such designations typically do not entail significant financial burdens.

Transparency and Merit

Another point of consideration is the lack of detailed information about why Mary Elizabeth 'Bettie' Cole has been chosen for this honor. The bill does not provide background on Cole or detail her contributions, which might lead to questions about the transparency and the criteria used for granting such a designation.

Broader Public Impact

From a broad perspective, the impact of this bill on the general public is minimal. Changing the name of a postal facility may have symbolic significance for the local community of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, especially if Mary Elizabeth 'Bettie' Cole is a figure of historical or local importance. For residents and postal patrons, the name change might serve as a point of pride or recognition of community values or history.

For the wider public, the implications of this action are limited, as the primary function of the postal facility will not change, nor will it affect the services provided by the United States Postal Service.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Local Community: For those in Sewickley, the designation of a post office in honor of a local figure might enhance community spirit and reflect the local history or identity. Should Mary Elizabeth 'Bettie' Cole have significant local importance, this action could be seen as a fitting tribute by local residents.

Federal Government Resources: While the financial impact is likely negligible, federal resources might still be used for tasks such as changing signage or updating digital records. Stakeholders involved in managing these government resources might weigh this expenditure against potential benefits of community or historical recognition.

United States Postal Service: The USPS may need to manage logistical aspects of this change, though these are anticipated to be minor. There isn't expected to be any disruption in services, and the capacity to deliver mail efficiently remains unchanged.

In conclusion, while H.R. 1461 is a straightforward bill with limited direct impact on the broader public, its significance may lie predominantly in its symbolic gesture to honor Mary Elizabeth 'Bettie' Cole in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. The bill raises minor issues concerning transparency and resource allocation that might interest stakeholders more broadly concerned with legislative practices.

Issues

  • The designation of a post office building with a specific individual's name might raise concerns about whether this is the best use of government resources, especially if there are associated costs, even though such designations typically involve no significant financial impact. This issue relates to Section 1(a).

  • There is a lack of information provided on why this specific individual, Mary Elizabeth 'Bettie' Cole, was chosen for the honor, which could raise questions about the transparency or merit of the designation process. This is relevant to Section 1(a) as well.

  • The language in the bill is clear and straightforward, but the section does not mention if there are any costs associated with renaming the facility or making new signs, which might be considered unnecessary by some if costs are indeed involved. This issue pertains to Section 1.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Mary Elizabeth Bettie Cole Post Office Building Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 521 Thorn Street in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as the “Mary Elizabeth ‘Bettie’ Cole Post Office Building." It also states that any future references to this facility in official materials should use this new name.